The premier podcast dedicated to highlighting humble, inspiring people. Hosted by Andrew Namanny. Guests include Joey Gonzalez CEO of Barry's Bootcamp, billionaire Jay Adair, blind Mt. Everest Summiter Erik Weihenmayer, Ex-Russian Sex Spy Aliia Roza, and more.
68. From Paris to the WNBA: How Olivia Nelson Is Building the Vogue of Women’s Basketball
Host Andrew Namanny interviews Olivia Nelson, founder of DAMECORE, about blending luxury fashion with women's basketball culture and seizing opportunities beyond uncertainty.
21 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
67. From Special Forces to World Record Cyclist: Dean Stott on Evacuating Embassies, Defying Limits, and Living Relentlessly
What does it take to go from a surf shop dropout to one of Britain's most elite Special Forces operators, then reinvent yourself all over again?
Dean Stott MBE spent 16 years in the military, including time in the Special Boat Service (SBS), the UK's equivalent of SEAL Team Six.
After a catastrophic parachuting accident at 15,000 feet ended his career, he refused to stop.
He built a private security company from scratch, single-handedly evacuated the Canadian Embassy from war-torn Libya, rescued 220 people from Israel within 96 hours of the October 7th Hamas attacks, and, oh yeah, broke the world record for cycling the 14,000-mile Pan-American Highway in just 99 days, raising over $1.4 million for mental health charities along the way.
In this conversation, Dean opens up about:
— The parachuting accident that tore every ligament in his knee and ended his military career
— Dressing as Taliban to run double agents in Kandahar, and the moment he nearly fired his weapon by mistake
— How he buried 30 weapons in the Libyan desert and built a security empire from nothing
— Why he believes anticipation is worse than participation
— The raw "dead or divorce" conversation that changed everything in his marriage
— Cycling 14,000 miles having barely ridden a bike — and smashing the world record by 17 days
— How breathwork kept him calm in a boxing ring at age 49
— His friendship with Prince Harry and the Heads Together mental health campaign
— The Race Across America he's planning next, and why it's going to be special
Dean is one of those rare humans who makes you rethink what's actually possible. This one will stay with you.
📖 Dean's book: Relentless
🌐 Dean's website: www.deanstott.com
📸 Dean on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanstott/
💼 Dean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-stott-mbe-24725880/
🎙️ Follow Permission to Shine:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_/
💼 Host Andrew Namanny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/
7 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
66. Matt Hranek, Founder of WM Brown, on Taste, Ralph Lauren, Negronis, and the Good Life
Matt Hranek is one of those guys who makes you want to live better immediately.
Matt is the founder and editor of William Brown magazine, author of A Man & His Watch, A Man & His Car, Negroni, and Martini, and the world’s most interested guy. Not interesting. Interested.
In this episode, we talk about taste, why AI still can’t fake it, the problem with modern fashion, how Ralph Lauren mannequins mess with our heads, why great style should feel lived-in, and what actually makes a good life.
Matt also shares stories from his early photography days, building WM Brown, hosting his legendary Florence Negroni party, and why dressing well still matters.
This one made me want to buy a ticket, put on a jacket, and pay closer attention.
Thanks for listening!
-Andrew
Inside a recent episode
68. From Paris to the WNBA: How Olivia Nelson Is Building the Vogue of Women’s Basketball
Published 1 Jul 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I mean, the pay gap was huge until recently. And also Sedona Prince, she exposed kind of the disparities as well during the NCAA March Madness tournament back in 2022, I believe. But They were feeding the basketball players like these Lunchables lunch boxes. Meanwhile, the men get these luxurious buffets and the men get got like really cool swag bags while the woman got like a water bottle. And it's just I mean, it's like night and day, like, you know, and it was so bizarre to me because. I think women basketball players are the most aspirational figures that they are. I mean, like, first of all, being a pro athlete, like so much respect to that. […]
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